Reducing Our Footprint by Reusing and Upcycling Used Boxes and Packing Materials

As we’ve grown as a company, we’ve seen how shipments large and small can affect our environment – from packaging and waste to the need for fuel. We’ve always tried to adhere to the three R’s when shipping – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Some broken down boxes that we’ve shelved for re-use.

If you ever receive a package from Keg Outlet that looks a little less than stellar on the outside, you’re likely looking at a box or package that has been used before.

By and large, most of the goods we sell are very durable – stainless steel products, kegs with rubber tops and bottoms, various hoses, other metal parts and much more. Thanks to the durability of our products, it gives us the option to use previously used packaging.

Reduce

Whenever possible, we try to reduce 3 things between our warehouses:

The amount of waste that we produce
We try to limit and reduce the amount of waste that we produce by reusing boxes as much as we possibly can. Whenever we receive shipments, if the box is still in halfway decent condition, we’ll break it down and add it to our stock so that it can be used again for a future shipment.
The number of packages going out
Packages add up quickly… especially when shipping large items like kegs, fermenters and brewing vessels. Orders that contain large quantities of items will often require multiple packages, but whenever the opportunity presents itself for us to pack smaller items into a larger box, we do everything possible to consolidate.
The distance that packages need to travel
We have warehouses across the country that we’re able to ship from as well as a network of partners and vendors who can help with fulfillment of certain products and items. This allows us to decrease the number of miles that packages need to travel.

Reuse

Reducing Footprint by Reusing Shipping Materials — Shipping boxes that we’ve received parts and products in. Broken down to be reused for future, outgoing shipments.

We reuse boxes and packing materials whenever possible. Anytime we receive a shipment, whether it be a pallet or package, we’ll break down the shipping materials and add them to our inventory so that they can be reused in future shipments if the box or package has enough integrity to be used again. If it’s in really bad shape, we’ll recycle it.

Have you ever received a shipment from Keg Outlet and wondered

Why does this package look like it’s traveled across the U.S. 15 times?

Random packaging and padding materials — Our collection of random padding, packaging and filler materials to be re-used.

The answer is that it likely has! Well, 15 might be an exaggeration, but we do frequently reuse boxes whenever possible. This commonly occurs with custom built items as well as with highly durable items such as hoses and metal parts and components.

Packing materials such as filler paper, packing peanuts, space filler air bags and other foam padding & filling components are all saved and used in outgoing shipments. We keep a couple large containers in our warehouse that are full of random packing materials that we’ve collected from inbound shipments.

We even bring in bagged air that we receive at home from personal shipments!

Recycle

If the first two R’s aren’t possible, we resort to recycling when we can. Paper goods such as boxes and packing materials are recycled and wooden items such as crates and pallets are “upcycled” in projects like our custom craft beer bar which was done in part with Good Obsessions.

Did your package look a little less than stellar?

At Keg Outlet, we try our best to reduce waste whenever possible. As mentioned above, the box you received could very well have been used before and if it’s got some life left, we try to use it again. Hopefully the outside of the package doesn’t affect your perception of whats inside.

Cheers!